The Uproar at Ephesus—a Lesson in Divine Providence

After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome. So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season. And the same time there arose no small stir about that way. For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen; Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth. Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands: So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth. And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre. And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people. But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians. And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? a worshipper...: Gre. the temple keeper Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. the law...: Or, the Court dayes are kept But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly. lawful...: Or, ordinary For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse. And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly. - Acts 19:21-41

    The uproar of the multitudes against the saints of God at Ephesus was no accident. It was not the result of men being beyond God's control. Rather, it was one event among many by which the Lord our God sovereignly accomplished, and is accomplishing, his purpose of grace. The uproar came to pass because wicked men, with wicked hearts, for wicked purposes, set themselves in opposition to the preaching of the gospel of God's free and sovereign grace in Christ. But God overruled their wickedness for the accomplishment of his good designs. Here are four basic, foundation truths of Holy Scripture by which believing hearts are sustained with peace in the midst of earthly troubles.

    1. The Lord our God is totally sovereign

    He has the right and the power to do what he will with all things, and he always exercises his right of sovereignty (Job42:2; Isa. 14:24,27; 46:9-11; 55:11; Ps. 115:3; 135:6; Jer. 32:17; Dan. 4:35-37; Matt. 20:15; Rom. 9:11-23; Eph. 1:11,22). In creation, in providence and in grace, the Lord our God always has his way.

    2. Our great, sovereign God has a plan, a purpose of grace and predestination, by which he constantly rules all things

    His plan is eternal (2 Tim. 1:9; 2 Thess. 2:13; Matt. 25:34). It is unalterable (Num. 23:19; Mal. 3:6; James 1:17). And God's enteral purpose is all-inclusive. Nothing happens in time except that which God purposed in eternity (Gen. 50:20; Isa. 45:7, Prov. 16:1-4,9,33; 21:1; Amos 3:6).

    3. God Almighty sovereignly rules all things in heaven, earth and hell to accomplish his eternal plan and purpose of predestination (Rom. 8:28-30; 11:36; Eph. 1:11)

    God is not a mere spectator standing on the sidelines, rooting and cheering for the accomplishment of his goals. He is everywhere, sustaining all things, ruling all things and bringing all things to their predestined end. The tiny sparrow appears to us as an insignificant thing. Its flight looks giddy and haphazard. But the sparrow does not light upon any branch or fall to the ground without God's direction. 'God's all-wise providence hath before appointed what bough the sparrow shall perch upon, what grains it shall pick up, where it shall lodge and where it shall build, on what it shall live, and where it shall die,' said Augustus Toplady. God's providence rules everywhere and everything absolutely: the physical world (Isa. 40:12; Nahum 1:3); the animal world (Dan. 6:22; Matt. 10:29); the nations of the world (Ps. 33:9-11; Isa. 40: 15;Dan. 2:21; 4: 17);all the people of the world (Prov. 16:9; 21:1; Acts 18:9-10; Exod. 12:36; 2 Sam. 16:10-11; Ps. 76:10; Exod. 14:17; Acts 4:27-28); and even Satan and the demons of hell (Job 1:6-12; 2:1-6). Everything in the universe is under the rule of God—everything!

    4. God rules everything in providence to accomplish the salvation of his elect and the glory of his own great name (Rom. 8:28; 11:36)

    Nothing in creation is left to chance, luck, fate, or the will of man. Everything is directed by God so that in the end all his people will be with Christ and like Christ (Rom. 8:29-30), and everything that has ever been will praise him (Rev. 5:13). It was no accident that brought Rebecca to the well to meet Abraham's servant. It was not a streak of luck that brought Joseph to Egypt 'to save much people alive'. It was not by chance that Pharaoh's daughter found Moses in the ark and preserved him alive. It was not blind fate that directed the millstone which crushed Abimelech's head. Every event in history is directed by the hand of God. He even gives the lightning the charge to strike its mark (Job 28:26; 37:3; 38:25,35).

    We shall now study the events recorded in Acts 19:21-41 seeking to see how that the hand of God sovereignly ruled, even in the uproar at Ephesus; and understand that the unseen hand of divine providence rules all things today for the good of God's elect and the glory of his name. Here God the Holy Spirit teaches us four things.

    First, all who are born of God are led by the Spirit of God (19:21-22). As it was the Spirit of God who led Simeon to the temple to see Christ (Luke 2:27), so it was the Spirit of God who led Paul from place to place preaching the gospel of Christ (20:22) and so it is to this day. The steps of God's people are ordered by the Holy Spirit (Ps. 37:23; Rom. 8:14).

    We should note that Timothy and Erastus ministered to Paul and to God's saints under Paul's direction (19:22). They subjected themselves to the Lord's apostle, being themselves filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18,21; Heb. 13:7,17). Those who are led by the Spirit submit themselves to those whom God has placed in authority over them.

    Secondly, the gospel of Christ always stirs up the wrath of men (19:23-28). Men are never indifferent to the message or the messengers of God's free grace. Whenever the gospel of Christ is preached in the power of the Holy Spirit, those who hear it will either bow to the claims of Christ or rise up in opposition against his ambassador (Matt. 10:22,34). 'There arose no small stir about that way.' The gospel of Christ is distinct from the religions of men. The way of grace, the way of Christ, is not one way among many, but the way, 'that way', that is altogether different from the ways of men. All the religions of men make the way to God and salvation dependent in some way upon man. But the ways of free-will, works religion are the ways of death (Prov. 14:12; 16:25). The gospel of Christ makes the way to God and salvation to be Christ alone (John 10:9; 14:6). We notice two things:

    1. The business of religion has always been, as it is today, a popular, profitable business (19:24-25). These men made and sold religious trinkets, icons, images, etc. just as many today sell crosses, images, religious pictures, etc.

    2. The gods which men make and cherish are puny, helpless things, worthy of contempt rather than praise (19:26-28; Isa. 46:5-7; 1 Kings 18:27-29).

    Thirdly, trials and persecutions are for the good of God’s people (19:29-34). Yes, even the wrath of wicked men is used by God for the good of his elect (Ps. 76:10). By means of this uproar and persecution, God's church was refined. The chaff was separated from the wheat. In the midst of the trial, Gaius and Aristarchus stood firm, while Alexander the coppersmith withered before the fire (1 Tim.1:19-20; 2 Tim. 4:15-16). Yet God stopped his mouth (19:33-34).

    Fourthly, the Lord knows how to deliver his people out of their troubles (19:35-41; Ps. 18:1-7,43-50). The Lord God used the priests of the temple of Diana (19:31) and a frightened town clerk to preserve his people from a raging mob. As Matthew Poole comments, 'Thus God, one way or other, sometimes by friends, and sometimes by foes, kept his church and people from being ruined; and his hand is not shortened now.' If God will give us grace to understand that all things are under his absolute control and to trust his wisdom, love and grace towards us in Christ, we will worship and trust him at all times and give thanks to him at all times, in all things and for all things (1 Thess. 5:16-18).